Le Basketbawl

Back in the Summer of 2005 guard Joe Johnson was called out by many after leaving a contending team as a Free Agent; the Phoenix Suns to sign a long term big money contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Now Johnson did not face scrutiny on the length or the dollar amount of the deal; as he was an up and coming player with a huge upside. However he did get ridiculed for the team he chose to sign with the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks were a perennial bottom feeder in the Eastern Conference; and sentiment at the time was they would remain that way through the duration of  Johnson’s contract.

Well it turns out that Johnson got the last laugh as Atlanta made the NBA Playoffs the last two seasons and unless the club is decimated by injuries they will make a return to the Post Season this spring. Coincidentally Johnson’s contract will run out at the end of this season and there has been all sorts of speculation of where he would play next season.

The “New York Daily News” reported Friday that an informal agreement  between Johnson’s agent Arn Tellem and Knicks Team President Donnie Walsh may have Johnson slated to sign this summer with “MY BOYS” the New York Knicks.  According to reports there may have been an “under the table agreement” between the two parties that will put Johnson in a Knicks uniform next season.

The paper’s Knicks beat writer Frank Isola is reporting that unidentified sources have said that the deal is almost a certainty of happening. Isola wrote “There is a growing sentiment among opposing team executives that at the very least the Knicks will sign Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, whose agent, Arn Tellem, orchestrated the Tracy McGrady trade to the Knicks and has been friends with Walsh for 20 years. It’s called a ‘wink-wink deal,’ and even though it is against NBA rules, the practice does exist and is nearly impossible to police. ‘I think that’s a done deal,’ said one Eastern Conference GM.”

Your Old Pal New York Vinnie would be very pleased if the Knicks sign the All-Star guard as he could be a core player on the club for the next few years. Johnson’s numbers are quite good averaging 21.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. However it is Johnson’s reputation for being a team player and a sold citizen that make the shooting guard in New York Vinnie’s mind a huge asset for any club.

Attitude to New York Vinnie is a key part of any players make-up; perhaps the most important part. You need to have a certain level of ability just to make it to the NBA. But the thing that separates the “Truly Great” from the rest is desire, passion, commitment and giving it all each time you step on the court. New York Vinnie would much rather have 12 players of decent ability with great attitudes than the 12 most talented players on the Planet if they are apathetic.

Johnson is the kind of player that you can build a team around even though he is not at the level of a Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James. But he is most likely the next level down talent wise but having the same desire and attitude of the three Superstars. Johnson can be a cornerstone of a strong foundation that Walsh puts together to turn “MY BOYS” fortunes around!

New York Vinnie has very, very high standards especially when it comes to my work. No body could ever beat up New York Vinnie as bad as I beat myself any time I make a mistake. A very wise man told New York Vinnie not long ago that people who take pride in what they do are their own worst critics. That definitely would apply to New York Vinnie.

However New York Vinnie has a different set of standards for others because I can not expect you to have the same value system as I do. But New York Vinnie always expects two things from an individual; that you try your hardest and that you are honest. People make Frickin mistakes; we are Frickin flesh and blood. New York Vinnie will forgive you if you admit your mistake. Unfortunately there are not that many people that will admit that and that leads to lies, cover-ups and deception. Once you lose that trust factor in a relationship it is very tough to get it back.

It takes courage to be a “Stand Up Guy” to face the consequences when you have messed up. Thursday New York Knicks Team President Donnie Walsh proved that he has that courage according to the “New York Daily News.” New York Vinnie has not been a fan of Walsh or what he has done in now more than a season and a half as the boss of the Knicks. There has been a whole lot of promises but not a lot of results; in fact New York Vinnie has referred to Walsh this season as “MR. MALARKEY.”

That name is going to be retired at least for the foreseeable future at “The House That New York Vinnie Built” because Walsh according to reports proved that he is a “Stand Up Guy.”  The paper reports that Walsh is taking full responsibility of the state of the franchise and said that Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni should not be getting any heat.

Walsh told the paper that the roster is totally on him not his bench boss. The Knicks President said “Mike’s my coach, all right? I have more responsibility for whatever you guys are writing about than he does. So I should be the guy looked at. I’m taking the responsibility for these first two seasons. I did it the first day I got here. I didn’t see how you could improve this franchise by making trades or building through the draft over a long period of time. So I looked and said, ‘We could get under the cap.’ So I tried to do that. And if that doesn’t work right away, I would continue to try to do it. And if I’m not the guy, I’ll leave. I don’t know another way to say it. But I don’t think I put Mike in a situation where I think he should be winning with this team.”

New York Vinnie has nothing but absolute respect for what Walsh said to reporters; because he is pulling no punches and just being honest! Bottom Frickin line; this team was in the Frickin stone age after the “Reign Of Terror” that went on under Isiah Thomas. Zeke made some Frickin terrible moves and any realistic Knicks fan knew it was going to take time to become respectable again. Just Frickin level with us; and all is Frickin cool!

Walsh admitted that the rebuilding is just starting and it may not all come together this summer. He told the media “I didn’t say in one summer we’re going to turn around and build a championship team. And I’m not asking for time. I won’t have that much time. But I know one thing: Now at least we have a flexible position, and whether it’s next summer or the summer after, we’re going to start adding players to this team that can lead you in that direction. Look, I want to do something this summer that makes us a much better product for the fans. That’s my pressure. I explained to everybody exactly how I was going to approach it. I do it regularly, where we are in that program. They’ll have to decide if I’m the guy to do it, but I’m doing what I said I’d do.”

Walsh admitted that he has been very frustrated with this team at times. He said “I never expected to see anything like that. I don’t understand the game. It didn’t look like our guys came out with any energy in a game you would think we would because Cleveland’s got the best record in the league. Any young teams I had, we lost. We didn’t get over the hump until I got Larry Brown (with the Indiana Pacers). But I haven’t had a team go out there and it’s like they weren’t giving any type of effort.”

Yo Donnie; New York Vinnie has written this before; you are not in the Great Midwest any longer. This is New York City My Man not some Frickin cornfield! You be straight with us and it will be all good!

New York Vinnie has told you this countless times; the biggest Frickin problem on this Planet right now is a lack of Frickin Common Sense! We are so much more Frickin technologically advanced than we were 50 years ago; but we are far less Frickin sophisticated! Unfortunately there are too many people on this Planet in 2010 that think their head is only there for them to put a ball cap on it!

We also have way too many Frickin sheep and not enough Frickin shepherds in this day and age. People hear something said on the Frickin TV and they take it as the Holy Gospel. Whether it is some Frickin Nut Job on a News Talk show asking the American people to stage a revolution; or some Frickin ”TV Pretty Boy” giving out false information people lap that Frickin Crapolla up with two spoons.

Well it took a while but it seems that the “Greatest City To Ever Exist On The Planet, New York City” has finally started to Frickin wake up and smell the Frickin coffee! New York Vinnie has been telling you since last Summer that Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James would not be signing a Free Agent contract with “MY BOYS” the New York Knicks at the end of the season. New York Vinnie has consistently told you that he will re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers this Summer. Whether they win it all this June or not they are legitimate contenders. The Knicks even with all their salary cap space for next summer are not.

Wednesday the “New York Post” had a column by Knicks beat writer Marc Berman entitled “LeBron-to-Knicks hope fading.” New York Vinnie has mentioned before how much respect I have for Berman as a writer. However New York Vinnie has to disagree with that headline; there was never any hope of “The Chosen One” coming to the Knicks. It was just delusional!

Knicks veteran big man Al Harrington told reporters that he is sure the reigning NBA MVP will be back with the Cavaliers next season. Harrington said “A lot of teams would love to have him and the Knicks are one of them. But if he’s as loyal as he says, I would think it’s very hard for him to leave, especially because he’s home. If it was a different city, maybe not as much a connection, but at the end of the day, he generates every single thing for this whole state. It would be tough for him to make that decision to leave.”

DING-DING! Al My Man You have rang the Frickin Bell! You hit the Frickin nail right on the head. LeBron James owns the city of Cleveland; he would be a Frickin Dim-Wit to leave! His team is on the Frickin cusp of winning it all; why go to a rebuilding team? It makes no sense!  And finally people are starting to wake up and see the reality!

Now New York Vinnie is not saying that “MY BOYS” can not improve next summer; there will be plenty of talent available. But LeBron James will be in Cleveland at the start of next season; you can take that to the Frickin bank!

The “Associated Press” reported Saturday that Tracy McGrady will make his debut for the New York Knicks in the starting line-up as the Knicks host the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday at MSG.  The veteran guard who was traded to New York just before the trading deadline in a three team deal Thursday with the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings has not been in an NBA game since December 23. McGrady has appeared in just six NBA games this season and played very limited minutes in each of those games.

McGrady told reporters that he really has no idea how long he can last on the hardwood Saturday. T-Mac said “Physically I feel good, but then again I haven’t played in a year and a half. Even the eight minutes I was playing, you really can’t get a feel of how long I can play. But yeah, I think I’m ready to go. I don’t think a lot of people expect a lot out of me anyway. So, it’s really no pressure. I’m just looking forward to going out there and playing.”

Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni had not come up with a concrete starting line-up according to reports however McGrady would be on the floor at the opening of the contest.

The “Boston Globe” reported Thursday that the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks completed a five player trade before the NBA Trade  Deadline took  effect Thursday afternoon at 3:00 pm EST. The Knicks sent Boston point guard Nate Robinson and seldom used rookie forward Marcus Landry in return for reserve guards Eddie House, Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens. Walker and Giddens are both in their second NBA season and were used sparingly this season by the Celtics.

Boston receives the winner of last weekend’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. He is the the only player to have won the trophy three different times. Robinson who will become an unrestricted Free Agent at the end of the season did what none before him had accomplished. He went into Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni’s ”Doghouse” and not only survived; he became a starter before he was traded to the Celtics. 

Robinson will give Boston good depth in their back-court as Robinson will play off the bench for the Celtics. He has averaged 13.2 points and 3.7 assists per game in the 30 games  he played for New York this season. The Knicks in return get a veteran leader in House who was a key part in Boston winning the NBA Title in 2008. House is in his  tenth season in the NBA and has averaged 7.2 points in 50 games played for the Celtics this season.

The “New York Post” is reporting that the New York Knicks have acquired Houston Rockets All-Star guard Tracy McGrady in a three team deal with the Rockets and the Sacramento Kings that will also put the Knicks under the salary cap as they head into the Summer of 2010.

According to reports New York will receive “T-Mac” and Sacramento guard Sergio Rodriguez. They will send Houston Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill and two conditional first round picks. The Knicks will also send veteran Larry Hughes to the Kings in the trade. Houston will obtain guard Kevin Martin, big man Hilton Armstrong and Kenny Thomas from Sacramento. The Kings in addition to getting Hughes from the Knicks will receive Carl Landry, Joey Dorsey and cash from the Rockets.

The “New York Post” reported that McGrady addressed the issue on his web site. The paper reported that he stated “I can’t wait to get back on the court to continue doing what I love to do. I am excited to be headed to New York and look forward to wearing a Knick uniform. “I know that I can and will contribute to this organization. It’s a dream to play in New York and there is nothing that compares to playing in the Garden. Knick fans are some of the most knowledgeable and passionate fans in the league, and it will be an honor to play in front of them and to play for the great city of New York.”

According to reports getting Jeffries and the rookie Hill’s contracts off the New York books will leave them with plenty of money to explore the Free Agent class this summer. However in the short term gives “MY BOYS“  a marquee name in the NBA for the rest of this season. As excited as “T-Mac” is to come play for the Knicks fans like New York Vinnie may be even more enthusiastic about having him come on board.

What was it that Frickin Forest Gump’s mother used to say? Was it “Stupid Is As Stupid Does?” If so then it would definitely apply to Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum who committed a Frickin stupid act as you can Frickin get.  The “Los Angeles Times” reported that Bynum missed the Frickin team flight from New York City to Toronto because the Frickin Dim-wit put his bags outside his Frickin hotel room door and went back to Frickin bed!

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that his starting center would be fined for the act. The L.A. coach said “His bags made it to Toronto, but he didn’t. So obviously he got up and put his bags outside the door and something happened between there and the bus, like going back to sleep again, or whatever. … He’s all right. A rookie mistake you would call it, even though he’s not a rookie. There’s a standard fine for it. He paid his own plane fare.”

No Coach Zen; Bynum is not a Frickin Rookie he has played for five years in the NBA. This is another reason why the Lakers will not Frickin make it back to the NBA Finals this year. Morons like Bynum; a powder keg ready to explode in Ron Artest. Jackson has a problem with Pau Gasol and nobody can tell Kobe what to do except for Kobe. In New York Vinnie’s eyes it is a sure prescription for an early exit from the Post Season.